Web-holding mechanism for circular-knitting machines.



H. SW!NGLEHURST.

WEB HOLDING'MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

I APPLICATION FILED OCTffi, 19H. 1 1%? &7, Patented July 2?, 1915.

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WEB HOLDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED OCT-5, 19H. 1 14?; j;

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WEB HOLDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR KNITTING MACHINES.

APPLICATION FILED 0015. 1911.

Patented July 27, 1915;

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' HARRY swriieLnnuns'rfor nos'ron, imssnonusnr'rs, hssienon rocs'coigr Iwrnnmns, Inc, on temmnnnrnra, PENNSYLVANIA, A ccnro'nariou 1o newJERSEY.

WEB-HQOLDING MECHANISM FOR CIRCULAR-KNITTING MA Cl IlIN ES."

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented July 2?,19152,

Application filed October 5, 1911.v Serial No. 853,002.

To all whom it may concern: I Be it known that I, HARRY SWINGLEHURST, ytcitizen of the United States, and a resident a :of Boston, in the countyof Suffolk and higher speeds are attained, inasmuch as less;

dle cylinder and a stationary m preferable to one having the ,reverse,.ar- 55 rangement of such parts, first, because State of Massachusetts,have invented an Improvement in Web-Holding Mechanism forCircular-Knitting Machines, of which, the following description, inconnection with the'accompanying drawings, is a specifica tion, likecharacters on the drawings representing like parts. i

This invention relates to web-holding, or, as sometimes named, sinkermechanism for circular knitting machines and more partieularly to meansfor operating independently movable web-holders or sinkers in connectionwith independently movable knitting needles.

In order that the principle ofmy invention may be better understood, Ihave disclosed a single embodiment thereof inthe accompanying drawings,in which- Figure l is a side elevation of a circular knitting machineembodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a detail in transverse section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig,8 is a plan View of the structure shown in Fig. 1; Fig. at is a frontelevation of the npper portion of a knitting machine embodying my newdevices; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the sinker or web-holder cam ring;and'Fig. 6 is a transverse;vertical section thereof.

I have chosen to illustrate my invention as applied to a circularknitting machine of t e general type-disclosed in the patent to GeorgeD. Mayo, No. 726,13}, dated April 21 1903, but in the particular achineillustrated the needle cylinder is rotatable and i the cam ring isrelatively stationary, al

though the reverse construction, as in said patent; may be employed sofar as certain features of the invention are concerned.

The knitting machine to which I have rep resented my invention as a liedis re vided with single stitch cam, it being understood that if themachine he a muiti feed machine, it will be provided with a single orother stitch cam for each yarn feed.

So far as certain features of the invention are concerned the characterof the knitting cam mechanism may be widely varied within the-scopethereof t (A knitting machine having a rotary nee mass is in motionduring the knitting, oper tion, and secondly, because in niuitiple,feed' 5 machines or in machines where yarn changg;

must, when the needle cylinder is stationary and the cam ring is causedto rotate or recip rocate thereabout.

In knitting machines of the single knit i ting cam type, it isnecessary, in'ordertokeep the yarn guide always in the leadof. '70

thestitch cam, that certain relative peation he maintained betweensaidguideand cam during the knitting operation/ There-,- a

fore, when the machine is reciprooatedasin,

narrowing and widening, the stitch cam .75

must change its relation to theyarnfeed on: each change in the directionof mwe'mentfoi the machine, so that said yarn feed may, always be in thelead of the stitch wcarn.

hen, as in the machine of the said Mayq Patent No. 726,178, the cam ringis the mot-,1 ing element, this is readily efi'ected'by pro:

gear ring and the. cam ring, so that oneacliv ,viding for lostmotionbetweenthe driwing.

change in the direction of motion ,ot thei 135- driving gear ring, thecam ring will remain, stationary until the yarn gu de has, secured theproper lead with respect to the stitch;

cam. When, however, the machine has a the cam' ring is. normaliystationary, this method of operation cannot be utilized,-

I -"In my co-pending application SerialNo;

628,055, filed May 18, 1911, (Letters Patent rotating or reciprocatingneedle cylinder and;

No. 1,087,698, February/'17, 1914) ,I have fully disclosed and claimedmeans whereby in the rotatable needle cylinder type of knit-;

ting machine, movement is imparted to the cam ring-on each'change in thedirection of.

motion of the needle cylinder thereby .to-

shift thestitch cam with relation to the yarn guide, so asto preservethe proper lea-dict the yarn guide with respect to the stitch cam duringan stagesof the knitting operation.

Referringmore particularly to the drawings,'t1ie' needle cyl nder isrepresentedat 1,

the said cylinder being supported upon the bed plate 2 and having aflange by which retary motion is imparted thereto by a beveled gear uponthe main drive shaft of the machine. Surrounding tlie needle cylinder isa cam ring 3' preferably mounted on a fixed ring on the bed plate 2 soas to be free to turn thereon.

By preference, the cam ring is positively moved to the desired extent oneach change in the direction of movement of the needle cylinder. Forthis purpose, I, have herein represented at 1-14 the shaft carrying thequadrant whereby to and fro movements are imparted to the driving shaftof the machine, preferably by means of a connecting rod 142 and arotating drive wheel, and at 92 a shaft controlling the operation of thereinforcing mechanism of the yarn supply of the machine, and to which arockingmotion about its vertical axis is imparted whenever the machinechanges from rotary to reciprocal knitting, or vice versa, said partshaving similar numbers to those applied to the corrresponding parts asshown in the Mayo patent above referred to and operating in the samemanner as the corresponding parts in the machine of said patent.

Upon the shaft 14d are mounted, so as to be free to swing, two levers 5,6, the lever 5 being connected by a link to the said connecting rod,whereby the latter, which is constantly acting to impart rockingmovement to the toothed quadrant of the machine, also imparts constantrocking movement to said lever The hub of the lever 5 is slotted asindicated at 7 for the reception of a key 8 carried by a pin 9 free toslide longitudinally in a bored out portion of the shaft 144, the latteralso receiving a coiled spring 10 acting upon a shoulder on said pin toproject the same.

The lever 6 is provided with a bushing free to turn upon the hub of thelever 5 and having slots 11 for the reception of said key 8 when thelatter has been moved into line therewith and then inwardly, said keybeing free from said slots when moved outward as'shown in Fig. 2. Theposition of said key therefore determines whether the lever 6 isclutched to the lever 5 or is free from operative connection therewith.The end por tion of the shaft 14% may be slotted, the slots in saidshaft and the bushing of the lever 5 being of such width as to permitfree play of the key 8 therein. A washer secured to the end of the shaft144 serves toa'etain the parts in proper position upon the latter.

The shaft 92 is provided at a point in line with the pin 9 with aprojecting pin 13. When the machine is knitting round and round, saidshaft 92 occupies the position shown in Fig. 2, said pin 13 being atright angles to the pin 9 and free from contact therewith, so as topermit the spring 10 to .provide means such as shown in myapplicaproject the pin 9 to its full extent. when, however, the partsare operated so as to' change the machinefrom rotary to recipro: calmovement, rocking movement is imparted to the shaft 92 and the pin 13thereof is moved so as to strike the end of the pin 9 and move itinwardly or toward the left. viewing Fig. 2, this action taking place ata time when the key 8 is in line with the slots in the hub-of the lever6, so as to cause said 7 key to enter said slots, thereby clutching thelever (i to the lever 5 and causing said levers to oscillate together.The outer end of the lever 6 is provided with a. cam 14, with whichengages an anti-friction roller or projection 15 upon an arm 16 securedto an upright shaft 17 journaled in suitable brackets 18 xedly securedto the framing of the machine. Fast upon the upper end of the shaft 17is an arm 19 connected by link 20-to the flange of the cam ring 3, asmost clearly shown in Fig. 3.

hen the machine is knitting round and round, the parts occupy suchrelation to one another that the stitch cam of the cam ring 3 occupiesthe proper position in the rear of the yarn guide. As soon as the ma-;chine changes from rotary to reciprocal knitting, motion of shaft 17causes the cam ring to mo je with the needle cylinder until thestitchcam occupies a position at the other side of the yarn guide, theneedles then continuing to move past the cam, and when the drivingmovement of the machine is again changed for the production of thesecond course of reciprocal knitting or for cl mging back to round andround knitting, a reverse movement of the stitch cam is effected,thereby positioning the same in proper relation to the thread guide.

Any other suitable means may be provided positively to move the cam ringwith respect to the yarn guide, so as to permit the latter to have theproper lead, and if desired I may tion above referred to, to lock thecam ring in either position.

Within the scope of my invention, I may shift tlre cam ring at theindicated intervals otherwise than in a positive manner, and if desiredas indicated in said application.

The machine herein disclosed is provided with suitable picker mechanismto act upon individual needles in narrowing and widening. said mechanismbeing of. any suitable type and such for example as disclosed in myLettersPatent No. 1,057,782, dated April 1, 1913.

In order to elevate the instep needles prior to the commencement ofnarrowing "and widening. and also when desired to elevate all theneedles to permit removal of the needle cylinder or for other purpose, Imav provide a switch can. ll having means operatively connected to amoving part of the 1 arenas?" depressed position with respect fto theneelg'lles. Eriaid switch cam is so constructed "and mounted as to becapable of manual movement from its elevated to its depressed position.ll do not herein claim the switchcam" or its operating means.

Theneedle cylinder is provided with a sinker rin to receive the sinkers.lhe ring and sinlrers and the cam mechanism therefor may hegenerallvsimilar to those shown in the-said'lvlayo' Fatent, No. 726,178. I,however, provide certain adjustments to control the throw of thesinkers, and particularly to 3.5 prevent over movement of the sinkersradie' ival-d. i j

T eferrinr; to Figs. 5 and 6, l have therein reg'ireeenteo a sinker camring 28 having thereon. a draw-out cam 49 and two push-in 1 s 50 pivotedat 51 upon the sinker ring out they may be adjusted as desired. To

effect such adjustment 1 provide said cams with set screws 52 takinginto slots 53 in the cam ring, thereby permitting adjustment of saidpush cams in and out. The draw-out cam 49 is stationary and, inasmuch asadjustment of the push-in came 50 may result in over movement of thesinkers and also to control at all times the movement of thesinkers, lprovide adjustable cams 5% pivoted at 55 and priividedwith set screws 56taking into slots in the sinker cam ring to secure them in adjustableposition. As shown in 5, the ends of the stationary I draw-out cam areof reduced thickness as indicated at 57', to receive said adjustablecams The-outer edges of the adjustable camsbel form substantialcontinuations of the draw-out cam 49 in either direction of rotation.

Qonseouent upon the change from the construction specificallyillustrated in said Mayo patent, in which the cam ring and cams were theactuated elements, the sinker cam ring, in order that the butts of theWeb holding sinkersnow moving with the needle cyliw r he actuated, is inmy improved dew held relatively stationary with reto the now stationary.lrnitting Wave.

59 Means for this purpose, as in said patent, may comprise lugs 11? onsaid sinker cam ring, and adjustable stop screws 116 to take on eitherside 01 a post erected on the support l. for this cam-ring which postmay he shown in said patent, one of the supports for the latch ring andyarn feed guide,

To cooperate with my new device for positive y adinsting the position ofthe needle ith respect to the remainder of" the relatively stationarydevices, comprislog. the yum-guide and the sinker-cams, I providethesinker cam ring l8 with drawin cams 50 at a proper distance-apart, asshown in F 1g. 5 to cooperate respectively w with the cams in the needlecam-rmg 3 when said cam ringis in' eitherex't'reme of its movementduring reciprocal-knitting. 'As

ell understood ,in the art, the cams 50 push;

the Web-holders or sinkers in to prevent the i forming fabric fromrising by. friction With 7? needles rising trom'the retractedloop-drawing position reached when the apex of the stitch cam is incontact with their operating,

loutts. The rising phase of the knitting ,Wave is shifted at eachreciprocal stroke by the device for moving the ring 3, to bring it i Iunder the sinker-s in Contact with the respec-z tive sinker-cam 50.

Having thus described one illustrative embodimentof my invention, Idesire it to be understood that although specific termsf are employed,they are used in a generic and descriptive sense=and not for purposes oflimitation, the scope of the invention being set "forth in the followingclaims.

- Claims:

1. Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising adraw-out cam, two pivoted adjustable push-in cams at opposite sidesthereof, and a pair of adjustable cams, the outer edges thereof formingsubstantialcontinuations of the guiding edge of said draw-out cam.

2. Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising adraw-out cam, adjustable push-in cams at opposite sides thereof, and apivoted adjustable cam at each end of said draw-out cam,

3. Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising astationary draw-out cam having ends of reduced thickness, adjustablepush-in cam mechanism acting with both said draw-out cams, andadjustable cams superposed upon the reduccd ends of said draw-out c: L

4. Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising astationary draw'out cam, adjustable push-in cam mechanism co-acting withbotl ends of said draw-out cam and adjustable came at the ends of andforming substantial continuations of said draw-out cam and between whichand said adjustable push-in cam mechanism the sinkers are ,g, uided.'

5L Sinker cam mechanism for circular knitting machines comprising adraw-out cam and an adjustable push-in cam co-acting therewith'andbetween which and said draw-out cam the sinkers are guided, and anadjustable cam at the end of and forming a substantial.continuation ofsaid drawout cam.

6. a knitting machine a needle cylinder, means to rotate and oscillatesaid cylinder, a cam ring and a knitting cam, means to oscillate the camring to adjust the posh," tion of the knitting cam and means to holdsaid cam ring fixed in its adjusted position, web-holding sinprsassociated with said cylinder, and a reh ively fixed cam ring foractuating said sinkers having cams adapted to cooperate with theknitting cam in either of its adjusted positions.

"7. In a knitting machine a needle cylinder, means to rotate and tooscillate said cylinder, a cam ring and a knitting cam, means tooscillate the cam ring to adjust the position of the knitting cam, andmeans to hold said cam ring fixed in its adjusted position, Web-holdingsinkers associated with said "ylinder, and a relatively fixed cam ringfor actuating said sinkers having cams including independentlyadjustable draw-out cams adapted to cooperate with the knitting cam ineither of its adjusted positions.

8. In a knitting machine, a needle cylinder, means to rotate and tooscillate said cylinder, a cam ring and a knitting cam thereon, means tooscillate the cam ring to adjust the position of the knitting ca-in, andmeans to hold said cam ring fixed l1'f i t$ adjusted position,Web-holding, sinkers 'associated with said cylinder,-'a sinker c amr1ngV for actuating said sinkers and =m eansto hold said sinker cam ringrelatively fixed during movement of said needle cylinder said sinker camring having thereon cams" respectively adapted to cooperate with the;

